Old barns have the best stuff in them, and there was a fair amount of stuff in our barn when we bought our house. At first glance, you wouldn’t have thought there was anything really worth keeping, but that’s what makes a barn a good mine – you have to dig for the good stuff, and you have to be willing to look beyond layers of dirt and, creepy crawlies, and spider webs. One of the things we uncovered was an old wooden crate. {Read More}
Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner
July 12, 2015 by 9 Comments
Apparently back in the 70’s, the standard bet at a casino was $2, and most casinos in Vegas offered a 3-piece chicken dinner with a potato and vegetable for $1.79. So if you won a bet, you had enough money to get a chicken dinner, hence the expression, “winner winner, chicken dinner!” I’ve only been to a casino once in my life. We stayed at a campground owned by a casino, and you got $10 free to play at the casino {Read More}
Keeping Time
July 11, 2015 by 11 Comments
It was a quiet day at my house today. The 3 oldest kids were all at work, and my teenager left to stay with a friend, so it was just hubby and I at home. I thought about going to the flea market, since I haven’t been there yet this year, but one look at the forecast convinced me that it wouldn’t be fun walking around during a downpour and thunderstorm. So, since I don’t have any great finds to {Read More}
DIY Watercolor Pillow or Wall Art with Transfer Artist Paper
July 5, 2015 by 42 Comments
Some people can’t wait to try every new kind of technology that hits the market. I am not one of those people. I avoid new technology like a toddler voids a nap, like a husband avoids to-do lists, like a teen avoids chores, like a… …..well, you get the idea. I don’t like new technology. Once I learn to do something, I don’t want to learn it again every time a new version comes out, and in this day and age, {Read More}
Just Muddle Through It
July 3, 2015 by 3 Comments
Last week I had a new project idea that I was all excited to work on. I picked up the supplies I needed when I was in town, and was ready to work on it first thing in the morning. I thought I was good to go. Normally when I have a project that requires a photocopy, I use my laser printer, because the ink doesn’t smudge. But this project required a copy from an inkjet printer, and it wasn’t until I went to work {Read More}
A Little More Grace
June 25, 2015 by 20 Comments
There are goof ups, and then there are GOOF UPS, and I made the capital, bold face letter kind! Remember a few weeks ago, when I shared my new Amazing Grace stencil design? It included the words from Chris Rice’s version of the well-known hymn. Well… Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim purchased the stencil, and she made a sign with it. When her husband (who is a music minister) saw the sign, he said, “That’s nice, but that phrase is {Read More}
Old Milk Bottle Shape Stencils
June 24, 2015 by 4 Comments
In addition to working on several new stencil designs, I’ve also been designing some inexpensive “add-ons”. Add-ons are smaller stencils that will coordinate with the larger stencils in my line, but can be used by themselves also. The first set of add-on designs are a 2-pack of old milk bottle shape stencils that coordinate with the Milk and Cream Co. design. The first one is an outline of an old milk bottle. Here’s how it looks paired with the Milk and Cream Co. stencil. The second one {Read More}
Stenciled Drop Cloth Pillow and Down Time
June 10, 2015 by 23 Comments
My stencil sales have been coming in at a somewhat slow and steady pace, which was fine, because it was a pace I could keep up with. Then BAM, as soon as I introduced the Milk & Cream Co. stencil design, orders started pouring in. I wasn’t prepared to get so many orders so quickly and I spent the weekend up to my ears in Milk and Cream. Of course, that’s a very good thing, but by yesterday I was exhausted, and in dire need of {Read More}
Milk and Cream Co. Sign on Stool and Chalkboard
June 6, 2015 by 14 Comments
It’s been more than 2 years ago since I made my first Milk and Cream Co. sign. Since I only had 1 antique window like that, I started making them on glass photo frames. And they sold, and they sold, and they sold, and to date I’ve made almost 50 more of them! Finally I realized that since other people love the design as much as I do, it was time to make make it available as a reusable stencil so anyone {Read More}
Because I Can
June 3, 2015 by 15 Comments
I’m smack dab in the middle of raising my 4th teenager now, and there’s a standard answer he gives me when I ask why he did something. “Because I can.” Well, I’m stealing his answer today, because my tin can stash is overflowing again, so it was time to repurpose some of them, and turn them into summmerish decor. I printed a few of my vintage can labels (links to printables below) to add to the cans. You’ll notice that these {Read More}
